There’s a bar in the Lower East Side that I used to go to a lot called, Motor City Bar. I haven’t been there in quite a while and after seeing that Roger & Me screening on Tuesday, I thought this would be an appropriate week to go and check it out for this week’s happy hour.﻿

Here comes the F train...

And baboom, here we are. There's no sign outside, you just have to know where to go.

Although the door handles do give you a little bit of a clue as to where you are.

And here we are. This place gets packed at night, but it's still the afternoon, so there's plenty of seats to be had.

The bartender was a little shy and didn't want her photo taken, so Lee jumped off his bar stool so I could get a people shot. Lee's a real character and a nice guy. He's a regular at Motor City and has lived in the East Village for over thirty years. Okay, let's take a tour of the bar.

Here's some lit up bottles behind the bar with an "M" made out of wrenches hovering overhead.

Check out the tire table!

An entire wall is covered with this cool black and white painting of a car in action.

Beneath it are actual car seats to put you in a real Motor City mood.

Bare bulbs hang over the bar and illuminate it.

I love the lit up Ford sign on the brick wall in the back room. This has been hanging there since they opened Motor City back in 1996.

And it wouldn't be a true Motor City bar without a giant license plate from the original Motor City: Detroit, Michigan.

This sign made me think of my Canadian friend, Lex. Hi Lex! She may be making an appearance here in June. Stay tuned!

Reader Comments (23)

"Please be quiet" sign outside establishments,,,,people living upstairs, I suppose. Perfect shirt for Duncester, as McQueen was a true hell raiser and that mugshot taken in Alaska in 72,,,,he was feeling no pain. I like that second to last picture,,,shot looking out the window, reminded me of West Side Story.

always love the happy hour on friday, it gets me thirsty! lol! what a cool bar, who'd have thunk the east village would have a bar dedicated to the motor city? duncesters t-shirt is too cool! love the cast of characters that show up on this blog! that behind the scenes shot is a classic!

The woman stretching her leg could also maybe vying to be in the ballerina project, maybe.

And to the left of that pinball machine is a table arcade video game, which features old school video games such as Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Galaga, etc.. Could've spent $10 worth of quarters there easily, but had to save some for my laundry.

And here's another Canadian thing I spotted in the bathroom at Motor City bar.

Great hanging out with youse. Left my umbrella, that's what happens when one has had one too many martinis.

@Al: I would hate to live above a bar ever since the no smoking policy began, I don't think too many people heed those signs! Glad you liked that doorway shot!

@Bobby D: Glad you're enjoying the happy hours, it makes me...happy!

@Meleah: The car seats are a cool touch indeed!

@esquared: Great seeing you last night, one of these times you're going to have to reveal yourself on TWM! Thanks for the two photos and that Canadian toilet paper is a great shot too! My friend Lex will appreciate that one! And it's funny, I thought about bringing an umbrella, but decided against it because I always leave them at the bar. Oh well, it's a good excuse to go back!

Leonore Goldberg and her Girl Commandos! I thought I was the last person alive who remembered Motor City Comix and one of R Crumbs better creations. Motor City Bar looks like exactly the place where you'd might still be able to find Dr. Atomic and his biker sidekick Billy hanging out and enjoying a pint or two...(remember him?) Check your e-mail...

Marty, Motor City is one of my Favorite all time Rock & Roll Bars. I'm really surprised it''s still there. That neighborhood is High Rent. I had a lot of Hot dates in the back in those car seats . Vrooom Vroom

Nice choice of video - a classic. Looks like a great bar. I don't even drive, but I like all the auto shops around where I live - disappearing though. My brother could rebuild any car & had a crazy assortment of s/h classic cars - old sports cars, or thirties numbers with running boards & red leather seats.. Really fun to go out driving in them when I was a kid.

Well The Door say it " X Marks the Spot ". Cool Dark Bar ! Pinball Very Cool, I grew up playing pinball in NYC Chinatown & Played at Broadway Arcade before there was Video. My oldest Brother worked at Broadway Arcade fixing Pinball machines, then came the video & he fixed them as well. There was a time at my Mothers house that we had 2 working Pinball machines that my brother got very cheap since they needed allot of work. They where Fireball & Centaur, but my brother made us pay to play, said he needed money for maintenance & set them up that you can get extra game & ball easy, if you knew what to do & play, since we had to pay.Cheers